According to a leak on the upcoming restructuring of the research and innovation directorate general, DG RTD, the European Commission is to add a new unit with a brief to set down guidelines for using generative AI in science. 

Alongside developing a new policy on how AI is applied to accelerate productivity in science whilst ensuring its integrity is not compromised, the new unit, 'E4: Industry 5.0 and AI in science', will be responsible for implementing an action plan for the Industry 5.0 model, under which employees are to be empowered to work better and faster in a "sustainable human-centric and resilient European industry".  

Unit E4 will develop guidelines on using generative AI in science with the Commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism members. 

Generative AI models are being fed enormous amounts of data, based on which they can write essays, scientific papers, computer code, jokes and 'answer' philosophical questions. While it's still in its infancy, proponents of the technology say it could fuel scientific discoveries by accelerating the rate at which researchers can discover new molecules or materials and generate new hypotheses.  

While the EU is finalizing its first regulation on artificial intelligence, the scientific community has yet to come up with a unified response on how generative AI could be used in higher education and research. The new unit in RTD would be a first step towards a coordinated response by the EU to the rising challenges and opportunities posed by generative AI in science.  

The plan was unveiled at an internal RTD meeting on 5 July, where Director General Marc Lemaître presented the main organizational changes, he wants to implement by the end of the year.  

The unit for ecological and social transitions headed by Bernd Biervert will be split, and files related to a healthy planet will be moved to a revamped B1 unit, which will be called 'Green Transitions Policy and Coordination – Circular Biobased Systems'.   

In addition, the 'Healthy Oceans and Seas' unit is to be renamed 'Oceans and Waters' to "understand, unlock and harness" the potential of oceans, seas, lakes and rivers by 2030. The unit is also in charge of the Oceans Mission in Horizon Europe.